2025-12-31-accounts - Swaledale And Arkengarthdale Archaeology Group

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Trustees' Annual Report for the period
From				T o
	Period	start date			Period end date

					31		2025
	1	January	2025			December

Section A Reference and administration details	Section A Reference and administration details	Section A Reference and administration details	Section A Reference and administration details
Charity name	Swaledale and Arkengarthdale Archaeology Group
Other names charity is known by
	SWAAG
Registered charity number (if any)	1155775
	1155775

Charity's principal address		c/o Alan Mills Sorrel Sykes Off Back Lane Reeth Richmond North Yorkshire


		Postcode	DL11 6TJ

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

Dates acted if not for Name of person (or body) entitled Trustee name Office (if any) whole year to appoint trustee (if any) 1 Anne Jowett Michael Keenan Treasurer Retired @ AGM 2 14/10/26 Alan Franklin 3 Treasurer Appointed @AGM Mills 14/10/26 1

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Hilary Fawcett 4

5 Matthew Farrelly

Mark Rutter Appointed 16/10/26 6

Section B Structure, governance and management

Description of the charity’s trusts

Constitution Type of governing document

(eg. trust deed, constitution)

Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) How the charity is constituted

(eg. trust, association, company)

Elected by ballot at the AGM, with interim options to co-opt, as per the Trustee selection methods Constitution (eg. appointed by, elected by)

Additional governance issues (Optional information)

You may choose to include additional information, where relevant, about:

policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees;
the charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works;
relationship with any related parties;
trustees’ consideration of major risks and the system and procedures to manage them.

Organisational Structure: SWAAG is managed and controlled by the volunteer Trustees all of whom are elected from the membership. Specialist groups/committees reporting to the Trustees are formed as necessary

The policies in place include the following: Health and Safety Children and Young Peoples Safeguarding Financial Authority and Controls Diversity and Inclusion Volunteering Finds

These policies are subject to periodic review

Section E of this report provides a statement explaining the Trustees’ reserves policy for SWAAG.

Data Protection and Privacy continue to be managed in accordance with GDPR recommendations.

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Section C Objectives and activities

Summary of the objects of the charity set out in its governing document

For the public benefit to advance the education of the public in general and more specifically the residents of, and visitors to, the County of North Yorkshire, particularly the area known as the Yorkshire Dales, in the subjects of archaeology, history, heritage, geology and the natural environment in order to promote a better understanding and management of the local heritage by, for example: Providing training and experience of a broad range of archaeological and historical investigative techniques which may be applied to the study of the local heritage; Undertaking research including local history, fieldwork and excavations into all aspects of the local heritage and publishing and making otherwise available the results of that research; Providing lectures, guided walks, community projects, activities with local schools and organisations and exhibitions.

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The Trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commissioners on public benefit and, in accordance with that, the activities undertaken by SWAAG in 2025 have included: • A group visit took place to Creswell Crags, Derbyshire, a magnesium limestone gorge with numerous caves, fissures and rock shelters along its length. Only the caves on the south side of the gorge were inhabited, but have no evidence of rock art. The caves on the north side of the gorge have the rock art, and no evidence of general habitation. The Paleolithic rock art is approximately 13,000 to 12,800 years old, dating to the end of the last Ice Age. • Assistance to other archaeology groups has included undertaking geophysical surveys of sites at Brignall old church for Altogether Archaeology. • Regular monthly information and discussion meetings have continued via zoom and hybrid (where participants have the option of joining online or face to face) formats for SWAAG members and guests. A recent innovation has been the introduction of recording of talks to enable viewing by members unable to attend. • Talks by SWAAG members covering a wide range of history and Summary of the main activities archaeology related topics have included: undertaken for the public benefit in relation to these o The history of the Marske Estate and some local comparisons, objects (include within this by Stephen Clark section the statutory o Marie Hartley by Sue Nicholson. declaration that trustees have o Medieval Lead Mining in Swaledale and Arkengarthdale, by had regard to the guidance Alan Mills issued by the Charity o The copper mines of Richmondshire, by Jane Harrison Commission on public benefit) • Talks by external professionals, specialists and enthusiasts have included: o Uncovering Roman Carlisle 2025 – excavation of the Roman Villa at Carlisle Cricket Club, by Nick Henderson o The British Upper Palaeolithic with particular reference to Creswell Crags, by Professor Paul Pettitt o Looking for Arthur – finding Arthwys, by Alistair Hall o The legacy of the Kearton Brothers, by Helen Guy o Archaeological sites for investigation, by Mike Wood • Guided walks encompassing areas, sites and features of archaeological interest have been arranged for SWAAG members guests and visitors including o A possible Viking site on Bellerby Moor o A Middleton Tyas Copper Mines Walk o Mining on and around Grinton Moor o Dicky Edge Early Medieval Settlement on Feldom Range • Transcriptions of the Healaugh and Muker Manor Court Books for the period 1686-1786 have continued.

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The Trustees hold regular board meetings to review financial issues and to discuss activities, policies, progress and other matters.

An AGM available to be attended by all SWAAG members either in person or online was held on 14[th] October 2025.

SWAAG publicizes its activities through its website https://new swaag.org and local publications such as the monthly free Reeth Gazette.

The website also contains a wide range of archives, databases, newsletters and publications together with other information including the Manor Court Book transcriptions and further details and reports of the talks and walks referred to above.

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Additional details of objectives and activities (Optional information) You may choose to include further statements, where relevant, about: • policy on grant making; •policy programme related investment; •contribution made by volunteers.	Whilst excavations are supervised by professional archaeologists and training courses are led by specialists, all SWAAG activities are devised, managed, supervised and implemented by SWAAG volunteers.

Summary of the main See activities listed above achievements of the charity during the year

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Section E Financial review


Brief statement of the charity’s policy on reserves	Trustees maintain under review the commercial risks to which the charity is exposed (e.g. possible rental of storage space, work required on the website; repairs to and replacement of equipment) as well as those “risks” that arise as a consequence of the research work that SWAAG undertakes from time to time (e.g. requirements for radio carbon dating, environmental sample analyses, finds conservation, archiving). Previously the Trustees were of the view that it would be prudent for SWAAG to retain a level of reserves of some £5000, with funds over and above the reserves available to be used to fund research projects. This policy was reviewed in 2025. With total funds approaching £,7000 (restricted and un restricted) it was decided to allocate up to £4,000 of unrestricted funds to finance an archaeological ‘dig’ locally in the Summer of 2026 with the restricted funds being available if necessary for specialist analyses such as radiocarbon dating.
Details of any funds materially in deficit	None

Brief statement of the charity’s
policy on reserves

Trustees maintain under review the commercial risks to which the charity
is exposed (e.g. possible rental of storage space, work required on the
website; repairs to and replacement of equipment) as well as those “risks”
that arise as a consequence of the research work that SWAAG
undertakes from time to time (e.g. requirements for radio carbon dating,
environmental sample analyses, finds conservation, archiving). Previously
the Trustees were of the view that it would be prudent for SWAAG to
retain a level of reserves of some £5000, with funds over and above the
reserves available to be used to fund research projects. This policy was
reviewed in 2025. With total funds approaching £,7000 (restricted and un
restricted) it was decided to allocate up to £4,000 of unrestricted funds to
finance an archaeological ‘dig’ locally in the Summer of 2026 with the
restricted funds being available if necessary for specialist analyses such
as radiocarbon dating.

Details of any funds materially
in deficit

None

Further financial review details (Optional information)

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You may choose to include additional information, where relevant about:

the charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising);
how expenditure has supported the key objectives of the charity;
investment policy and objectives including any ethical investment policy adopted.

The accounts for the financial year ending 31st December 2025 have been prepared on a Receipts and Payments basis.

The accounts have been independently examined by Andrea Dixon and her report accompanies this report.

As recommended by the Charity Commission, the accounts have been segregated into Unrestricted and Restricted cash flows. These funds are considered separately below.

Unrestricted Funds

Over the year the charity has generated a net loss of £302.45 compared to a net surplus of £214.92 in 2024. This loss is due in main to the replacement of the Group’s elderly PC and a delay in submitting the Gift Aid claim to the HMRC following the change of Treasurer.

With regard to income, membership subscriptions produced £1,075; the associated gift aid will be credited to the 2026 accounts. In addition, we received income from donations, walks, book sales and interest totalling £317.74.

Expenditure totalling £2219.11 was incurred. This included the costs of insurance, bank charges, CBA membership, governance, equipment, talks and website expenses.

There were no Year End Liabilities.

Restricted Funds

There was no restricted funds expenditure in 2024.

Income totalling £523.92 represents interest from a donated fund we hold for the establishment and support of an award for landscape archaeology and a generous donation amounting to £500 from a member. The restricted fund account stands at £1572.18 as at 31 December 2025.

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Section F Other optional information SWAAG wishes to thank: The Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority for its advice and support The member6 and volunteers who generously gave their time and shared their expertise to make SWAAG activities possible The external speakers who provided us with such a wide range of interesting and informative talks. Section G Declaration The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees, report above. Signed on behalf of the Charity's trustees Signature(s) Full name(s) Alan Franklin Mills Ikil Position (eg Secretsry, Chair. etc) Treasurer Trustee Date TAR

SWALEDALE & ARKENGARTHDALE ARCHAEOLOGY GROUP ACCOUNTS FOR THE PERIOD 1st JANUARY 2025 TO 31st DECEMBER 2025 2025 Unrestritted ,2025 Restrlrted 2025 Total 2024 Notes Incorne Membership Subscriptions Gift Aid £1,075.00 £0.00 £1,075.00 £0.00 £1,550. £361.38 Donatlons Incl from walks & talks isits £170.00 £500.00 £670.00 £65.00 £105.00 £105.00 £0.00 £39.90 Interest £14.18 £28.56 £23.92 £38.10 Book Sales £28.56 £8.40 Total Income £1.392.74 £523.92 £1,916.66 £2.024.68 enditure Bank Chafges CBA Membershlp Equipment Governance (50% of annual Zoom fee) Insurance £60.00 £60.00 £67.00 £645.79 £60.00 £63.00 £11.99 £67.00 £645.79 £77.94 £77.94 £92.94 £566.99 £566.99 £864.65 ¥l.ll Postage, Stationery & Printing Talks Expenses incl hire of hall, 50% of Zoom annual fee Visits Expenses Webslte £0.00 £0.00 £227.94 £192.94 £105.00 £105.00 £0.00 £468.45 £468.45 £2,219.11 302.45 £524.24 £1.809.76 £214.92 Total Expenditur• Excess Of Income Over Expenditure £2219.11 826.37 £0.00 £523.92 1st January 2025 Openin8 Balance (Bank+Cash) £7,522.38 £1,048.26 £8,570.64 ' £8,312.72 31st December 2025 Closing Balance (Bank & Cash) £6,696.01 ,572.18 £8,268.19 ' £8.527.64 Llabllltles at 31st December 2025 Debtors at 31st December 2025 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 Note 1: 2025 Gift Aid clairned in 2026; delay due to handover to new Treasurer Signed: Alan Mills, Treasurer Date 20 February 2026 Independently Examined By Andrea Dlxon Fl.L.rx, 28 Februa 2026 Approved by the Trustees and signed on thelr behalf Date